Part 5/14:

The industry’s obsession with high budgets leads to bloated productions, with internal costs often inflated by union rules, redundancies, inflation, and COVID-19 safety protocols. For instance, Mission Impossible films, once known for their smart stunt work and clever direction, now sit at the $200–$250 million mark—astronomical figures considering the modest box office returns and the simple fact that many of the expensive effects and sets could be achieved more cheaply.